Justice News

Office Manager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling More Than $500,000 from Her Employer

ROME, Ga. - Judy Elaine Henry has been sentenced to serve three years and one month in federal prison for committing wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud Bec-Don, Inc., a company that supplies concrete reinforcing steel and related products to the construction industry.

“This defendant abused her employer’s trust by stealing money from the company account for nearly eight years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Businesses have the right to expect honest services from their employees, but they should nonetheless be vigilant and adopt protocols to safeguard against internal fraud.”

“The sentencing of Ms. Henry in federal court holds her accountable for her eight years of theft from an employer who trusted her. The FBI, along with the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office, which assisted in the matter, fully understands how these types of thefts can adversely impact the bottom line of the victim company's financial stability,” said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Henry was the manager of Bec-Don’s office in Ringgold, Georgia, and was authorized to sign checks on Bec-Don’s account. From approximately 2006 through 2014, Henry embezzled more than $500,000 in company funds by writing checks payable to herself from Bec-Don’s account, and by making false entries in Bec-Don’s checkbook and accounting records to make it appear that the checks had been issued to pay legitimate company expenses. Henry deposited some of the fraudulent checks into her personal account and then used her debit card to spend the stolen money.

Judy Elaine Henry, 50, of Lafayette, Georgia, was sentenced to three years, one month in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $565,005.05. Henry was convicted on these charges on April 23, 2015, after she pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant United States Attorney J. Russell Phillips prosecuted the case.